And if Evenepoel intends to run only the Vuelta as a grand tour this year, the Ineos team will align in Switzerland the predictable backbone of the group which will try to end the domination of the Slovenian Tadej Pogacar (absent in Switzerland) in the large loop.

With the Briton Adam Yates who would be the leading role if we are to believe the Colombian Daniel Martinez, himself a perfect spoilsport.

Briton Adam Yates, during the 4th stage of Paris-Nice, a time trial between Domerat and Montluçon, March 9, 2022 FRANCK FIFE AFP / Archives

In addition to Adam Yates and Daniel Martinez, winner of the difficult Tour of the Basque Country in April, the British team features the Welshman Geraint Thomas and the Englishman Tom Pidcock, as well as the winner of the last Paris-Roubaix, the Dutchman Dylan van Baarle, transformed into single teammate.

Faced with this armada, Bora puts forward a trump card in the person of the Russian Aleksandr Vlasov, neophyte of the Tour de Suisse but already winner of the Tour de Romandie at the beginning of May.

Vlasov, who will also discover the Tour de France in July, will be supported by the German Maximilian Schachmann and the Colombian Sergio Higuita in a race which includes two summit finishes, Friday and next Saturday, before the final time trial of 25 .6 kilometers in Liechtenstein.

Russian Aleksandr Vlasov, during the last stage of the Tour de Romandie, a time trial between Aigle and Villars-sur-Ollon, on May 1, 2022 in Switzerland Fabrice COFFRINI AFP / Archives

Pinot wants to test itself

Less than three weeks before the start in Copenhagen, the deadline for the Tour de France occupies the minds of the Dane Jakob Fuglsang (3rd in 2021) in already advanced form, the Kazakh Alexey Lutsenko and also the Frenchman Thibaut Pinot.

"The Tour de Suisse will be my last block of preparation", advances Pinot, near the podium in the final classification in 2013 and 2015 (4th).

"I had a good preparation course in the Alps. I want to test myself on this Tour of Switzerland".

Frenchman Thibaut Pinot, after training in the climb of La Planche des Belles Filles, May 18, 2022 in Plancher-les-Mines SEBASTIEN BOZON AFP / Archives

For his part, Gino Mäder will have additional motivation on the roads of his national tour.

Fifth in the Vuelta 2021, the Swiss finished second in the Tour de Romandie.

"I showed that I could withstand the pressure as a team leader," he notes about a responsibility that Evenepoel (22) takes on for his part very regularly.

The Swiss Gino Mäder, during the prologue of the Tour de Romandie, April 26, 2022 in Lausanne Fabrice COFFRINI AFP / Archives

The winner of Liège-Bastogne-Liège, who hit hard for his return to the Tour of Norway at the end of May (three stages and the general classification), looks like the man to beat, with the advantage of the counter- shows the last day in Vaduz.

Interest will also focus before the mountain stages on sprinters and punchers (Kristoff, Stewart, Groves, Impey, Aranburu and Coquard for the former, Cosnefroy, Turgis, Garcia Cortina, Matthews and Ulissi for the latter).

And also on Peter Sagan, the Slovak sick at the start of the season and author of an anonymous return, Friday, at the GP of the Canton of Aargau won by another ghost, the Swiss Marc Hirschi.

© 2022 AFP